In article <I8cVb.18035$uM2.2374@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink .net>,
"Thomas Cooke" <tomboy83@yahoo.com> wrote:

> I know this is the wrong news group to talk about VW's, but I have already
> had a 99' accord and a 02 Civic EX. I am considering the new VW GTi, I like
> the safety features and standard as well as optional extras, and when you
> can get one nearly loaded for 21,500. that's not bad. I was wondering since
> the price is close to an Accord LX, what is the reliability/drivability like
> if anyone has had a GTi???

VW in general: if you're used to a Honda, you'll be sorely disappointed
after the first 30K miles or so.

They're a freaking blast to drive, when they're on the road. It's the
entire ownership thing that's hard to take, after you've had a Honda.

I had a fling with a Jetta VR6. I went from my flawless 125K mile Civic
Si to this Jetta. Man oh man, on the road it was incredible. But...the
little things were wrong, and it just had too many things going wrong
with it. And the overall design of subsystems and parts was just
*wrong* in many cases.

The Germans love their cars, and expect to be involved with their cars.
They make design decisions that make sense to them, but are just plain
weird to someone who just wants a car to drive. Their thing is being
involved with the car at all levels; they made the design decisions
based on that mentality. Why *wouldn't* a driver want it they way
they've done it? is what they're thinking.

After my short (9 month) fling with the Jetta, I went back--to a 2000
Accord. Man oh man, I now know why the car magazines flat out love
Hondas. Everything is just *right*--from the height of the center
armrest to the design of the dash to every other detail about the car,
even the invisible details that make the thing feel like your favorite
pair of shoes.

The VW is your mistress. The Honda is the wife you come home to, head
bowed, asking for forgiveness. The Honda isn't flashy like the VW, and
it's not the same roadgoing experience--which is fine. It's still a
great roadgoing experience, and you're happy to have it do what it does
when you consider that in context with the rest of the package.